U.S. Soccer welcomes video replay progress, urges Women’s World Cup approval

Referee Matt Conger watches the Video Assistant Referee system, known as VAR, during the group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia. Women’s World Cup referees are undergoing training with VARs over the next two weeks, paving the way for the FIFA Council to approve the use of video reviews at this year’s tournament in France.

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press file

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Referee Matt Conger watches the Video Assistant Referee system, known as VAR, during the group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia. Women’s World Cup referees are undergoing training with VARs over the next two weeks, paving the way for the FIFA Council to approve the use of video reviews at this year’s tournament in France.

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press file

After urging FIFA to use video review at the Women’s World Cup, the head of American soccer has welcomed the progress being made on implementing VAR at the tournament.

US Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro says it’s important that the FIFA Council approves VAR for the tournament when it meets in Miami in March.

FIFA’s delay in deciding on the use of video assistant referees raised concerns among coaches ahead of the June 7-July 7 tournament in France. Cordeiro used a meeting of national associations in Morocco last month to highlight to FIFA President Gianni Infantino the importance of deploying VAR for the Women’s World Cup, just like at the men’s tournament last year.

And The Associated Press reported Monday that Women’s World Cup referees are now in training with VAR at a youth tournament in Qatar.

Cordeiro told the AP on Tuesday that “it’s important for the game, for fans around the world and, of course, for our players on the field that we do everything possible to include VAR at the Women’s World Cup.”